'I don't know who else to be': Miss N.H. Megan Lyman competes for national title

By Janine Mitchell

Special to the Democrat

Saturday, January 12, 2013

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Courtesy photo Andrew jones
Megan Lyman, miss New Hampshire, competes in lifestyle and fitness in swimsuit at the Miss America competition in Las Vegas Nevada at the Planet Hollywood resort and casino.

LAS VEGAS, Nevada — Sitting in the chair of a professional make up artist before a Miss America video shoot, Miss N.H. Megan Lyman took a deep breath and realized, “This is it.”

The 21-year-old, small-town, Gilford, N.H. native spent this week competing in the nationally televised Miss America preliminary competitions, with the final top 15 contestants to air tonight at 9 p.m. on ABC.

“I've just been given signs that say I'm on the right path. I'm going the right way,” says Megan.

She won the Miss New Hampshire Scholarship Program in April of 2012, as well as the honor of the Congeniality Award, and has spent the past nine months serving her community and training hours per day to compete for the title of Miss America.

After a week spent with 53 women from each of the United States, District of Columbia, Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico, Megan sits calmly with an ear-to-ear smile and obviously composed attitude.

In the three nights of preliminary competitions, Megan competed in talent, on-stage question, evening wear and had a 10 minute interview with an esteemed panel of celebrity judges — Bradley Bayou, an accomplished designer and member of Oprah's “Glam Squad”; Cheryl Burke, an award-winning dancer, choreographer and television star; Sam Champion, a well-known morning television broadcaster and weather editor; Mary Hart, a global broadcasting icon and television host; Daymond John, an entrepreneur, business icon and television star; McKayla Maroney, a 2012 Olympic Gold Medalist and Katie Stam Irk, Indiana's very first Miss America turned marketing professional and philanthropist.

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Courtesy photo Andrew jones
Megan Lyman, miss New Hampshire, competes in the evening wear competition in a gown designed by Bravo Boutique, in Concord, at the Miss America competition in Las Vegas Nevada at the Planet Hollywood resort and casino.

“I went in (to the interview) so relaxed and ready. I felt great when I walked in and when I walked out I felt even better,” says Megan of her private interview.

With the preliminary competitions out of the way, she looks forward to the finals tonight.

Despite catching a few “Zs” during spare minutes of rehearsals, constant buffet food, and not knowing their hectic schedule until the evening before, Megan says, “It's a little surreal I haven't been very nervous. I'm living every day to the fullest. Nerves haven't come into play yet.”

Enjoying every minute, Miss New Hampshire has spent hours in rehearsals and television filming, but a moment that resonates with her was meeting Miss America 2000 Heather French.

“She's so beautiful and represents this organization every day, still. She told a story of going to the grocery store at 10 a.m. to get her sick son medicine, with no make up on. People recognize her and ask for a photo and of course she says, 'yes.'”

But, this wasn't the first time she met her competitors. Megan met and spent a week with the 53 women in Orlando, Fla. at the little sister program, Miss America's Outstanding Teen.

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Courtesy photo Andrew Jones
Miss nh Megan Lyman introduces herself on the stage at the Planet Hollywood resort and casino in Las Vegas Nevada while competing for the title of Miss America.

“I met them all and it was scary to see them here, so competitive, after all being so sweet in Orlando,” admits Megan.

However, she says she has made many friends to keep for a lifetime.

Called “the nicest, most down-to-earth girl” by Miss Strafford County's Outstanding Teen Caroline Carter, Megan admits her family and friends visiting Las Vegas to watch her compete keep her grounded.

The Miss America Organization is the world's largest provider of scholarship assistance for young women and one of the nation's leading achievement programs. Last year, the Miss America Organization and its state and local affiliates made available more than $45 million in scholarship assistance. The 2013 Miss America Competition marks its third consecutive year on ABC tonight.